Method of testing aerated-beverage containers.



I. A. HOFF.

kMETHOD 0F TESTING AERATED BEVERAGE CONTAINERS.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 26. ISI?. 1 ,272,643. Patented July 9,1918.

. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ATTORNEY.

y 1.A.HoFF. 4

METHOD 0F TESING AERATED BEVERAGE CONTAINERS.

1 ,272,043.` Patented July 9, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

APPLICATION FILED 056.26. 191].

/Nl/ENTOR.

UZ# 50 Ubi??? ATTORNEY.

JOHN A. HOFF, OF ST. LOUS, MISSOURI.

METHODDF TESTING .AERATEDHBEVERAGE CONTAINERS.

Specification of Letters Patent Patented July 9, l1918.

Applicatonfiled December 26, 1917. Seria1No.209,009.

To' @ZZ/whom t may concern: p

Be it :known that LJorrN A. Horr, a Icitizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, Stateof Missouri, A.have :invented cer-- tain new and useful Improvements in Meth- Aods of lestinfr Aerated-Beverafre :Conta-iners, .of Which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to Vthe accompanying drawings, `forming a part hereof.

The ipresent invention is directed to improvements in methods offtesting containers offaerated beverages .or liquids chargedwvith `carben.-dioxid gas, 'theobject of .the test being ,to 4eliminate 1the danger of handling, yand :sending out to `:thetrade and .to :the purchasing public containers which after -once being illed with the .liquid .referred to, prove to be either ltoo. Weak to resist the internal pressure ,of fthe gases, or so defective and yleaky ,-as to alloxv the gases to gradually escape. In the irst case a bottle -or container Whilelbeing handled often ruptures Aand flies to pieces ,in the Ehands of ythe consumer lor Vof :the lclerk serving a customer, the fragments cutting the vhands of the person :hold- :the sbottle, and sometimes `cutting the face and other `exposed portions of 'the body. In Jthe second case ,the gases being allowed fto escape from the bottle leave fthe beverage hat and :tasteless when fthe same is served. By therefore subjecting .the bottles or containers to a proper ftest before they are de# livered to the public, any and `all .bottles which can not endure the strain imposed thereon by the test are eliminated so that theynever reach the consumeror thedea'ler. By :my method of test-ing therefore, there is no possible .Way `of a 4defective :container or bottle leaving the manufacturer and lconsequently the public and the consumer can handle :the bottles with proper safety as the probability of a .bottle bursting -or leaking under 'the pressure yof the gases' 4vvithin is very remote. In practising'my process Iam not restricted ato any particular form of apparatus. Many machines Vin fact are availble; both manually operated and automatic. For purposes of illustration however, and by ,Way of example, a manually operated .machine is herein selected-and I will therefore explain my invention in connection with such type of machine. The .advantages of the invention Will be fully apparent from the following detailed description in :con-

nection with the accompanying dra-wings in Whichy Figure 1 represents a 4vertical longitudinal section of one form of apparatus capable of carrying out my process, the plane of section being on the line `1 1 of Fig. 2, parts being in elevation, Fig. 2 is a top plan of the apparatus, the conveyors for the bottles being omitted; `Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2, with parts in elevation; and Fig. f1- is an elevation of a modified form of apparatus for practising the invention.

lReferring to the drawings, and for the present to lFigs. 1 to 3 inclusive, l, repre sents a tank or holder for Water, (or other liquid) the same being supported by any suitable form of standard or frame 2 as shown. `The top of the standard is formed with a centrally disposed depending cylinder 3 in which reciprocates a piston or plunger 4E secured Ato the upper end of the piston rod 5, the lower end of which carries a pis.- ton-G operating in fthe cylinder 7. The -piston 6 -is operated hydraulically, the Water circulating from the pipe 8 through the casing of the valve 9, pipes 10, and 11 leading from Athe valve casing to the cylinder 7 on opposite sides of the piston 6, and Waste pipe -12 yas yvvell understood in the art. The cylinder 3 is in open and in free communication with the tank 1 through the bottom opening O ofthe tank, said opening being span-ned by a yWire gauze or reticulated sheet Y13 resti-ng on the tank bottom, said sheet forming the 'bottom of a suitable holder or tray 14 in which the bottles (or other containers) B containing the gas-charged beverage are deposited and With which they are inserted vinto the tank preparatory to the ltesting operation. The upperend of the tank 1 -is surrounded by a trough or gutter 15 provided with a bottom packing ring or gasket 16, the outer Wall ofthe trough be ing tapped by a pipe 17 leading from the casing of a crackedv7 valve 18 (a valve left partly unseated so that a permanent flow of Water may be had through the ,pipe 17) -which yis coupled to a vpipe 19 'leading from any suitable source of Water supply. The overflow from the trough is by Way of a recess r formed in' the outer Wall of the trough at a point diametrically opposite the pipe 17, a suitable overflow-lip 20 leading from the bottom of the recess and .discharging into a pocket 21 from the bottom of which leads a waste-pipe 22 which conducts the waterV to any desired point. Extending from one of the sides of the trough 15 and spaced apart are bracket arms 23, the outer ends of which support a rock-shaft 24 to the ends of `which are secured the hinge" arms 25 whose inner ends carry the outer frame 26 of the glass vlidY or door 27, the side of the lid frame opposite the hinge arms 25 being provided with a handle 28.` rl`he hinge-arms 25 are formed with outer extensions 25 so proportioned and extended that when the lid` is swung to open position slightly past the vertical it will be varrested by the extensions or stops 25 striking the outer wall of the tank 1 (see dotted position of the lid in Fig. When the lid is closed the outer free edge or flange of the frame 26 engages the gasket 16, the lid being clamped tightly to the gasket bythe swing yokes 29 thejarms whereof are pivotally secured to the bosses 30 at the bases of the side walls of the tank 1, the cross bar of each yoke be ing provided with an operating handle 29 as shown. On the inner faces of the cross- Vbars of the yokes are preferably disposed cylindrical bars V,1f which, when the yokes lare swung to a clamping position, ride over 30 the cam formations 26 of the frame '26 @whereby the lid frame is gradually vyet firmly forced into water-tight engagement with the` gasket 16.

Leading from the ring or fitting 31 at the center ofthe glass lid 27 is a relief pipe 32 normally closed by a ball valve 33 confined in the casing 34, the casing being formed with a port or by-pass a, connect-ing the pipe 32 (below the valve) with a vacuum gage 35 to which atmospheric air maybe admitted loya valve 36 in the pipe'37 lead-V ing from'the T 38 bypwhich the gage is coupled to the valve lcasing 34. Leading from the valveV casing 34 across the lid27 is an -overfiow pipe 39 terminating at its free end in an elbow 40 which, for a closed position of the lid, discharges into the wasteY pocket 21. Disposed on oneside of the machine is an endless conveyer 41 traveling over suitable guides or tracks 42, the said conveyer being provided with hooks 43 for engaging the loops or handles h of the bottle holders or `trays14 as the latter are conveyedto the operator, a similar conveyer 41 with hooks 43, traveling over tracks 42 being .disposed on the opposite side of the machine for conducting awaythe trays containing the tested bottles.

, The'operation will now be obvious from theforegoing description, and briefly stated p is substantially asfollows: The tank 1 is rst filled with water, the piston 4 being of course raised to bring its upper surface in the plane ofthe bottom of the tank, and theV lid 27 swung to open position, the members 25 holding the lid substantially at thev angle shown by the dotted position of the lid in Fig; 3. vThe operator thereupon detaches from the conveyer 41 a tray yof bottles and deposits them into the tank and thenv closes the lid clamping it tightly against the gasket 16Y by the yokes 29 as shown in the drawings. The tank is thus practically full of water and the `bottles are submerged therein. The valve 36 being closed, the operator now turns the valve 9 to proper position to admit hydraulic water above the piston 6 (Fig. 1) causing the piston'4 to descend or move through a space just snificient to overcome theatmospheric pressure on the under side thereof and therebyY relieving the bottles within the tank from the support of the normal atmospheric pressure in said tank. lIn other words the bottles are now exposed to an extraneous pressurebelowV normal atmospheric, and in` the event thatallthe joints'of the apparatus are airtight and the tank absolutely full ofjwater at the beginning of the downward movement of the piston 4, this pressure is practically reduced to a vacuum, Vso that the interiors of the bottles are now in effectV subjected to an absolute pressure of the?V gases within, that is to say, to the original pressure of the gases in the bottles plus the vacuum or reduced pressure without, depending on the degree of rarefaction resultingV from the slight downward movement vofv the piston 4 as above described. Under these .circumstances the gases within the bottles are permitted to expand and exert theirmaximum Vpressure againstthe walls of the' bottles7 and any defective bottles or such as are not capable of resisting the increased pressure vwill burst or break and thus are prevented from being sent out to thetrade or purchasing public. 'Moreoven any leaky bottles may be readily detected by observing the bubbles escaping through the surrounding y liquid around the corks or crown seals thereof, and these likewise may be discarded andrheld back from the consumer.y y.At vthe conclusion of the test the valve 36 is openedto destroy the vacuum in the tank 1 and permitv the lid 27 to be swun open, whereupon the operator removes tie trav 14 and attaches it tol the hooks 43 of the lconveyer 41 whichV con- Veys the bottles to any convenient point.

The moment the valve`36 is opened and the vacuum inthe tank-1 destroyed, then, since ing his hands in the water. Any water lost by splashing and evaporation is `restored by `the 'stream `vtrielnling past jthe valve .18 into the gutter or'trough 15., the `overflow being discharged over thelip 20 into the pocket 2l whence it runs ont through the waste pipe *22. After depositing the nent lot .of bottles into the tank l amd .closing tand clamping the lid as previously described, the piston 4 is restored to vits .original position or top of its upward stroke .by proper manipula-tion .of the valve 9, :any .surplus water under `the lid escaping through the pipel past the valve .33., :through the casing 34 and pipe .3.9 to waste pocket 2l. The `,test `of the next lot of bottles `may now be effected in the same manner as that `of the preceding lot and so on indefinitely. VThe rarefaction or vacuum the tank l permits the .atmospheric air to hold :the lid ltightly .to its gasket 16 whereby an air-tight joint is assured :dining the stest.

I may of course employ various forms of test-ing apparatus, both manually operated and automatic, the foregoing being but a single example of the many which may be utilized for the purpose. A .very simple modified form is sho-waa in Eig. .4. In that case I provide a platform suspended from a 'head 51 by means Iof suspension lboflts v52, said platform serving to support a glass bel-l 53 in which is confined a bottle or equivalent aerated beverage container B. The head 51- is provided with ports @,fl, c, to which lead respectively a water-pipe 54 (provided with a valve V), an air-vent pipe 55 (provided with an air cock D), and vacuum pipe 56 (provided with valve V) connecting with a vacuum chamber or tank (not shown). The bell 53 terminates in a neck n provided with passages or ports m, m', communicating respectively with the ports e, (Z, and c.

f The valve V being closed, by opening the valve V on pipe 54 and air cock D on pipe 55, the bell may be filled with water so as to submerge the bottle B. By now closing the valve V and cock D and opening valve V', the vacuum to which the pipe 56 leads will at once be communicated to the bell 53, and the bottle B be subjected to a test under practically absolute pressure. If the bottle bursts it shows that it would have been dangerous to send it out to the trade. If it leaks, the leakage can be detected by the bubbles of gas rising through the water surrounding the bottle, whereupon this particular bottle is discarded. To remove the bottle the operator detaches the platform 50 which allows the bottle to drop through the bottom of the bell 53, the water of course being lost. The apparatus last described is intended more for isolated laboratory tests and would hardly be serviceable for testing large quantities of bottles. The two forms of apparatus described are sufficient to illustrate my improved method of testing containers .of aerated beverages (and other l; ,nids -changed `with gases nnder pressure), and since no .cla-im to :the lapparatus is herein inade, the description 'of the forms of apparatus illustrated is I,deemed suflieient to Aa `clear nnderstanading `of the invention.

The test should of .course be ycontinued a snflieient time rto give .the internal gases of `the containers .ample .opportiurity Jto exert their'fzutl iprzessure :against the inner walls of vthe container or bottle being tested. The vacuum around [the .container need Vnot of coifrrse .be affected by the -water method here described, dry lmetliod falling within the .spirit .of my invention. Ofcourse the water .or wet method is sim-pile, and has the advantage that where the bottles are allowed :to be .submerged leaks :may be readily detected .by watching the air bubbles rising Ythrough the liquid. It may be stated iin passingthat .the initial slight .downward movement jof` the piston 4 resorted to', to bring about a vacuous `condition within the tank .l necessarily y(muses -a withdrawal of a small portion lof the waiter which obviously fo'llows the .piston in such imovemennthis small portion being of course restored :to the tank when fthe piston finally is returned to its first and uppermost position. It may be'furtheradded that when the tank l is first filled with water for testing the first lot of bottles, the piston 4 is dropped to substantially the position shown in Fig. l so as to likewise fill the cylinder 3. The reason for this is that after the tray 14 with its bottles is deposited in the tank and the lid 27 is closed and clamped, there should be a surplus of water in the tank so as to completely fill the tank and drive out all the air with the raising of the piston 4 to its uppermost position. In thus rising, the piston eXpels all excess of water through the top of the lid into the pipe 39 and into the waste as already described. The subsequent slight downward movement of the piston 4to bring about a vacuous condition in the tank is in the nature of moving` from its position a section of the wall of the tank, the plunger 4 operating as a movable section of the tank wall.

Having described my invention what I claim is:

1. The method of testing containers of aerated liquids which consists in submerging the container in a body of liquid confined in a suitable tank or holder, and withdrawing a portion of the liquid body from its original confines to create a vacuum in the space originally occupied by the volume of the liquid thus withdrawn, whereby the container is subjected to a test under the absolute pressure of the contained gases.

2. The method of testing containers of aerated beverages which consists in submerging the container in a body of liquid confined in a suitable holder, withdrawing a llO portion of the liquid body from its original confines to create a vacuum in the space originally occupied by the volume of liquid thus withdrawn, whereby the interior of the container is subjected to the resulting difference between the inside and outside pressures, exposing the container to view while said pressure is being maintainedV whereby leaky containers may be detected.

3. 4The method of testing containers of aerated liquids which consists in submerg- `ingthe container in a body of water confined in a Vsuitable holder, withdrawing a portion of the liquid body from its original confines to create a vacuum in the space v originally occupied by the volume of the ythe container is partly or wholly submerged.

5. The method of testing containers of Copies of vthis, Vpatent may be obtained for aerated liquids which consists in inclosingV holderv a sufficient distance to overcome theatmospheric pressure on the outer face ofV such wall or section, whereby a vacuous condition is established in the holder around the container, and the latter subjected to a test under absolute pressure. Y Y

6. The method of testing containers *of aerated liquids which consists in surrounding them with a body of li'quid conned in a vessel without access of atmospheric air, and imparting a slight outward movement to a wall of the vessel or portion thereof in Contact with the liquid,l whereby a vacuous condition is produced in the vessel and the container subjected to a test under absolute LV pressure.

In testimony whereof I aHiX my signature in presence of'two witnesses.

l JOHN A. HOFF. Y

Witnesses: i

EMIL STAREK, v ELSE M. SmGEL.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner Vof Patents, Washington, D. C. 

